Region: GEN Rodriguez took over control of AFRICOM to oversee efforts to combat Islamic extremism on the continent. (AP)

Ghana: A security analyst said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country threatens the peace and stability of West Africa. (Xinhua)

Sudan: A Swiss research group published a report claiming South Sudan provides logistical, financial, and political support to anti-regime rebels. (AP)

Tunisia: Former President Ben Ali’s brother in law, jailed on charges of fraud, died in custody of a brain tumor. (Xinhua)

AMERICAS

Region: Brazilian FM Patriota announced trade negotiations between Mercosur and the EU will resume after the upcoming Paraguayan presidential election. (Xinhua)

Mexico: Authorities foiled a plot to assassinate two leftist politicians, including the former campaign manager of the runner-up candidate in last year’s presidential election. (AFP)

Mexico: Top legislators from the G20 member countries gathered in Mexico City for a two-day forum on economic recovery. (Xinhua)

ASIA

Afghanistan: A senior Taliban leader was arrested in an ANSF operation conducted alongside ISAF forces in the southern province of Helmand. (Xinhua)

Myanmar: Thirteen soldiers were killed after exchanging fire with an unknown group in the western Ranong province near the Thai border. (Xinhua)

Philippines: The military began joint military drills with the US, which the government said were vital to countering the rising threat of China. (AFP)

Thailand: A roadside bomb blast in the southern Yala province killed two top provincial officials a week after the first formal peace talks with rebels. (AFP)

EUROPE

Albania: The OSCE announced it will send hundreds of monitors to observe the national elections in June. (AP)

Germany: A recent poll indicated Chancellor Merkel remains the most popular politician in the country with a 68 percent approval rating. (Xinhua)

The Netherlands: A court stopped the extradition of a Dutch-Pakistani citizen suspected of ties to al Qaeda to the US because the US could not guarantee his access to PTSD treatment. (AFP)

Russia: Opposition leader and vocal critic of President Putin, Alexei Navalny, announced his intention to stand for the presidency in the next election despite preparations to stand trial for embezzlement. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: China called for trust-building steps the country’s negotiators and the world six major powers held a new round of talks here on Tehran’s nuclear program. (Xinhua)

Israel: Police in Jerusalem deployed reinforcements fearing that days of violent protests in the West Bank could spread to the city after Friday prayers. (AFP)

Lebanon: Tamam Salam, a moderate member of the opposition, emerged as the consensus candidate to take over as PM. (AFP)

Palestinian Territories: Hamas urged the UN to resume distributing food aid after a number of refugees stormed a field office in Gaza demanding reinstatement of a monthly cash allowance. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Google: While the tech giant remains the undisputed “king of search,” alternative services are beginning to chip away as the nature of search changes. (NYT)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to report

Hurricanes: Nothing to report

Earthquakes: Nothing to report

Volcano: Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy

Erupted, spewing ash across the surrounding communities as local mayors called for a state of emergency. (UPI)